Long Begins His Third Season As Gaffney High’s Athletic Director, Littlejohn Takes Over As Head Football Coach

By Billy G. Baker

Publisher

Gaffney—Former HSSR Mr. Football, Malcolm Long, established new school passing records at Gaffney High when he led the Indians to great success on the football field nearly 20 years ago, so he is quite at home starting his third season as the athletic director at his alma mater.

“What I stress to all our coaches at Gaffney is to be fair and consistent in their dealings with the student athletes on their teams,” said Coach Long. “I also want our coaches to be good role models and to teach our athletes good life skills, along with how to be successful citizens after they graduate.”

Coach Long said he has grown into the athletic director’s role at Gaffney High as he starts his third season, over-seeing one of the state’s top athletic programs year-end and year-out. “I have learned to be more eccentrical in my relationships with coaches, the school administration, and all the student athletes in our program,” he said. “Communication is very important in all relationships.”

During his prep career at Gaffney, Long helped lead the football team to three state titles, plus two in basketball. He went on to SC State where he set 14 passing records and led the Bulldogs to three straight MEAC titles in 2008, 2009, and 2010.

In prior interviews, Long has told the HSSR he did not pursue a professional football opportunity, after college, because he was focused on becoming a minister. Today, Long serves as the Pastor of the Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Gaffney. He is married to the love of his life Porchee’ and they are the proud parents of two football and basketball playing sons, Jamarion (15) and Malachi (12).

Prior to becoming the athletic director at Gaffney, Coach Long spent six seasons on the Gaffney staff as the team’s quarterback coach.



“I want to thank Gaffney principal Eric Blanton for his trust in me in offering me the athletic director’s job,” said Long. “I am grateful for his support and leadership. He is also very supportive of the athletic program at Gaffney High as well.

“I also want to thank our Superintendent, Dr. Thomas White, and the Cherokee County School board, for budgeting for the total renovation of the baseball and softball stadiums at Gaffney High School that are presently under construction,” said Coach Long. “Both teams are getting new locker rooms, new bleachers, and it is a complete face-lift for both facilities.”

This past season two very successful head coaches (Dan Jones and Mark Huff) retired after long coaching careers at Gaffney.

“Coach Jones was the longest serving football coach in Gaffney history with 32 years of service to the team,” said Coach Long. “Coach Jones taught his players mental toughness. Maybe I should not say this but he was the first coach I ever saw hit a kid with his head without a helmet on and that got the entire team’s attention. He was a former Gaffney player who loved teaching the game of football.”  

Coach Huff announced his retirement as the girls’ basketball coach at the end of this season. Huff won five boy’s state titles (2003, 04, 05, 2010, and 2012) and he was selected in to the SCACA Hall of Fame in 2014. Julian Wright, Huff’s top assistant last season, has been named the girls’ basketball head coach for this season.

Long time Gaffney offensive coordinator Donnie Littlejohn was named the new head football coach in January of this year. “Coach Littlejohn understands the Gaffney tradition, being a former player who has been coaching in the program for 22 seasons,” said Coach Long. “Since becoming the head coach he has been doing a very good job holding the kids accountable for things like their weight room work-outs and being on time for meetings.

“We are anticipating a very good football season and this team has a lot of potential to compete for a state title,” said Coach Long. “I consider Coach Littlejohn a player’s coach.”

Coach Littlejohn will be assisted by Kevin Phillips who will serve as the team’s Associate Head Coach/Linebackers/ and also as recruiting coordinator. Ian Cooper is the defensive coordinator while Brad Van Horn will serve as offensive coordinator.

Tony Smith is the strength coach.  Brennen Canupp will coach special teams/corner backs while Brandon Mullins will coach safeties/DB’s. BJ Little will coach OLB’s and Jordan McFadden will work with the defensive linemen. Brad Phillips is the quarterback’s coach and Dave Reams will work with running backs.  

Jeff Allen will mentor the offensive linemen while Wayne Starks will work with receivers. Julian Wright will coach TE/H-backs/OL and Scott Simpson will work with kickers. Scott Farmer will serve as director of football operations. Andrew Hinchliffe is the head junior varsity football coach. 

Other varsity head coaches returning include Jeff Mages in baseball and Maddie Pruitt in softball.  Charles Blue will begin his third season as the head boys’ basketball coach. Jasmine Smith is back as the competitive cheer coach. Lawanda Moorer will once again head up the boy’s and girl’s cross- country program.

Zach Bridges returns as the boy’s golf coach while Tina Frye is back to lead the girl’s golf team. Scott Simmons is back at the boys’ soccer coach and Lily Cazel returns to mentor the girls’ soccer team. Neely Swofford will be the new swim head coach for both the boys and girls swim teams.   

David Reams returns as the boy’s tennis coach and Kenny Harris will head up the girl’s tennis program. Jacob Bostic is back as the head volleyball coach and Daniel Grellman returns as the wrestling head coach. The two athletic trainers include Gianni Paglia and Aaron McCarley.

“I also wanted to thank Barbara Toney who worked as an athletic secretary for 20-plus years before she retired after this schoolyear,” said Coach Long. “Barbara is succeeded by Barbara Allison.

“I also want to thank Frank Giles for his many years of being a football and basketball game announcer at Gaffney games,” said Coach Long. .